Conducts mental health crisis assessments and crisis intervention for persons of all ages seeking emergency psychiatric services in a hospital emergency department as part of the Psychiatric Response Team. 

Assesses patients’ level of suicide/harm risk and obtains any available collateral information to determine the most appropriate level of care in consultation with ED providers and psychiatrists.  Consults and coordinates with medical staff in the ED and inpatient behavioral health unit to ensure patient needs are being appropriately addressed as a healthy disposition plan is created. 

Coordinates and facilitates admission to inpatient units, when clinically appropriate.  For those clients admitted at an MHS facility, completes insurance pre-certification and ensures that all necessary legal paperwork is completed accurately. 

Working with a client in the least restrictive environment is promoted.  Assists in coordinating the outpatient care of patients who are not in need of inpatient care and engages patients in developing their safety plan to help them manage future crises.  Completes clinical documentation within the electronic health record for all patients that are assessed. 

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling or closely related human service field from accredited university or meets the requirements of an MHP as defined by the Illinois Department of Human Services is required. 
• Master’s degree in Social Work, Psychology, Counseling or closely related human service field from an accredited university is preferred

Client Services

• Develop initial preliminary assessment data including clients’ presenting problems, mental status, relevant psychiatric, medical and developmental histories to make decisions regarding diagnosis (according to DSM-V) and/or to provide information and make appropriate referrals to other treatment resources in the community.
• Provide direct service intervention for emergency department patients.
• Implement crisis or pre-crisis intervention procedures with potentially suicidal, homicidal, or severely disabled clients. Make appropriate referrals to consulting psychiatrists or inpatient psychiatric facilities to prevent further destabilization.
• Coordinate referrals to inpatient and outpatient levels of care for emergency psychiatric assessments.
• Interview collateral contacts, previous and current treatment professionals, and significant others, as needed, to further assess appropriate plan of care.
• Conduct screenings and facilitates referrals from local hospitals, other agencies and/or internal programs to the state psychiatric facility (AMMHC) when applicable.
• Utilize MS Teams/Telehealth to conduct assessment of clients presenting to LMH, TMH and JMH with behavioral health concerns as requested by the ED providers

Client Information System

• Complete required administrative and legal paperwork (such as: voluntary and involuntary paperwork, Case Openings, SMI/SED, Acknowledgment of Voluntary Admission, Insurance Pre-Certifications, etc).
• Collect necessary information for billing and fee collection.
• Provide necessary client information to other agencies or health care providers to coordinate services to identified clients.
• Document assessments directly into the hospital EHR, where applicable, and ensure ED is provided with copies of all documentation when not able to enter directly into the client record.
• Complete insurance pre-certifications, when applicable, for patients being admitted to an MHS inpatient behavioral health unit.

Training Activities/Professional Growth

• Manager and employee mutually identify professional goals, which will enhance job related skills.
• Participate in ongoing agency meetings, committees, and special projects to enhance professional expertise.
• Attend and participate in mandatory monthly clinical supervision with manager as required by the IL Department of Human Services.
• Complete all mandatory education requirements by specified deadlines.
• Participate in required staff meetings and in-service meetings to keep abreast of agency policy and administrative procedures, meet requirements for continuing education, and upgrade professional knowledge.

Consultation/Networking

• Engage in appropriate team work functions (such as mutual support, clarification of office responsibilities and procedures) according agency policy to provide a professional working environment and effective service delivery.

Embodies the Memorial Health System Performance Excellence Standards of Safety, Integrity, Quality, and Stewardship that support our mission, vision and values:

• SAFETY: I put safety first in everything I do.  I speak up, without fear on matters of patient and colleague safety.  I take action to create an environment of zero harm.
• INTEGRITY: I respect others and show compassion.  I behave honestly and ethically.  I am accountable for my attitude, actions and health
• QUALITY: I advance my knowledge and skills.  I seek continuous improvement.  I deliver evidence-based care that leads to excellence in outcomes
• STEWARDSHIP: I use resources wisely and maintain financial stability.  We work together to coordinate care and services across the health system. We promote healthier communities

Job Relationships

• Communicate directly with manager for clinical supervision, clarification of agency policy, and program evaluation to promote a professional working environment and effective service delivery system.
• In absence of immediate manager, will reach out to Director for clinical supervision.
• Adhere to MHS/MBH Behavioral Standards.

Other Job Responsibilities

• Respond to requests for service from the community and link to appropriate clinic program or outside agencies.
• Participate in On Call Rotation and assist manager in ensuring coverage of open shifts as needed
• Perform other duties as required by agency needs.

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the major duties and responsibilities performed by incumbents of this job.  Incumbents may be requested to perform tasks other than those specifically presented in this description.